Wow

All I have to say is, some people's rain gods are hard core. I'm super thankful for the rain, and the run - oh it was gorgeous! but thunderstorming so hard it knocked out power all over the place for a whole day? Sheesh! Now I know what Angie meant when she said "be careful what you wish for"!

I'm not really complaining - after all, Toronto itself didn't lose power, just some rural areas around us. So I feel a little bad for them, but I feel better that I got in my run. Yes, I'm selfish :) But seriously, people, 5 miles on a cool(ish) afternoon with a light rain misting you gently? How can you beat that? Okay, so I still felt like a steamed dumpling by the time I was done... but it was nothing in comparison to this week's earlier failed attempt. I am one happy runner.

So thank you all for doing your rain dances. Obviously, it was bloggers that did it. I don't put much faith in the Weather Network.

You know, it's funny, today I was so appreciative of being able to exercise, and all week I've been so blue without it. Yet something happened today that really struck me, and made me realize just how incredibly easy it is to be lazy in our society. I was on my way to work, just entering the building which leads to the subway station, and as I reached to open the door, a woman coming through in the opposite direction punched the handicap button which opens it automatically. Funny thing is, the exact same scenario had happened to me the night before, with a different person. And as I impatiently reached out for the door handle to yank it open with my own strength (those automatic mechanisms go at a snail's pace, seriously! who can wait?) it truly amused me that two separate people, perfectly upright and healthy, and not carrying any parcels, had felt the need to have the door opened automatically for them rather than taking a split second to use their own arms. I mean, really. It's so sad. In this world, no one really has to do anything physical at all if they aren't inclined to. They can drive their cars, ride the elevator, and push handicap buttons. They can also eat McDonalds and KFC and have heart attacks at the age of 35. It's kind of tragic, actually.

It makes me so happy to be active. To actually enjoy my exercise, to be passionate about it. We live in a world where physical activity is largely a leisure activity, and where it is increasingly difficult to avoid bad health choices - but we are runners, and using our legs, our lungs, our entire physical beings, I think we really do rise above a lot of society's garbage. Yes we drink our fair share of beer, we eat our cake and our pizza and our ice cream, but ultimately we treat our bodies with respect, and we can feel good about that. We all run for so many different reasons, but we share one thing: those reasons are intrinsic to our being. They motivate us, drive us out to the track and the roads and the trails and yes, even the treadmill, over and over again, day in and day out. Maybe it's an addiction. But it's more than that - it's a lifestyle.

It's a damn good one. So cheers to runners everywhere, to realizing our physical potential, and to never getting stuck on an escalator.*

*The link works now!